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Criminal Law – cja343 (3 credits)

This is an introductory course in the study of criminal law, general legal principles, and how the criminal law functions in and affects modern society. This course highlights a variety of key topics, including the concept of crime and the development of criminal law, defenses to criminal charges, and a number of specific types of crimes, including personal crimes, property crimes, public order crimes, and offenses against public morality. Legal issues affecting punishment will also be discussed, as will ways the criminal law impacts victims of crime.

Criminal Responsibility and Defenses

Discuss the differences between legal and medical perspectives on mental illness and insanity.

Explain the nature of and types of defenses to criminal liability.

Distinguish justification from excuse.

Explore the concept of criminal capacity.

Personal, Property, and Computer Crimes

Distinguish Assault, Battery, and Mayhem.

Explain the differences between Rape and Statutory Rape.

Define Kidnapping and False Imprisonment.

Differentiate Robbery, Burglary, and Theft.

Explore computer and high-technology crimes.

Define the different types of homicide.

Public Order Crimes

Define crimes against public order.

Define DWI crimes.

Identify crimes against the administration of government.

Discuss prostitution, obscenity and lewdness.

Analyze federal and state anti-drug legislation and asset forfeiture.

Crime Victims and Crime Punishment

Understand the concept of “victim”.

Explain victims’ assistance programs.

Define plea bargaining and intermediate sanctions.

Analyze forms of sentencing and their rationale.

Discuss the Eighth Amendment and its relationship to capital punishment.

Evaluate “Problem Solving Courts” and restorative justice.

Criminal Law, the Concept of Crime, and Criminal Liability

Analyze essential elements of selected criminal offenses.

Explore the sources and purposes of criminal law.

Explain jurisdiction to create and enforce criminal law.

Discuss the adversarial system and standards of proof in criminal cases.

Discuss the concept of criminal liability.

Define accomplice liability.

Define inchoate offenses: Solicitation, conspiracy and attempt.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.

While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.